144 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



holding a looking-glass in front of the bride's face 

 so that she must gaze into it as she walks. When she 

 reaches the sack of henna, still with the utmosl 

 solemnity, she sits down upon it seven times in succes- 

 sion, to bring good fortune to her future home. This 

 is a very ancient custom, never omitted on the Monday, 

 On Tuesday, the henna -leaves having been crushed b) 

 the women, the paste is put on the head of the bride, 

 and a little on her hands. Then she remains seated 

 while her women and girl friends gather round her. 

 Each in turn places her hand on the bride's hea.d, 

 extolling her many virtues, saying how charitable she 

 has been, how generous, that she has given oil and 

 bread and clothes to the poor, etc. Whether true 01 

 not is of the least importance. On Wednesday evening 

 her hands are covered with henna the whole of the 

 palms and the back of the hand a.s far as the knuckles, 

 so that they look almost black. The feet are treated 

 in the same way the whole of the soles, and the rest 

 of the foot in the shape of a shoe. 



Thursday is the great day ; now, after these cere- 

 monies, after all sorts of preparations and much feast- 

 ing with her friends, the actual marriage -day arrives. 

 In the morning the bride takes a most elaborate bath, 

 and is perfumed with rich, strange Oriental scents, 

 those heavy, intoxicating essences dear to the Eastern 

 nature. At six o'clock in the evening she is taken in 

 procession, under the canopy, to the house of the bride- 

 groom. Before entering the room where she will be 

 attired for the marriage, she stops outside the door 

 to throw and break an egg against the top of the lintel. 

 As soon as she gets inside the room she breaks a jar 

 of water, both old customs, to bring good luck. The 



